No extension for Carnival

Published: Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 11:38 p.m.

That was the decision of the Terrebonne Parish Council, which held a special meeting Saturday to debate postponing the last few days of Carnival because of approaching thunderstorms.

Parish code says the local Carnival parade season must end by midnight on Fat Tuesday. The council debated a request that would have extended the deadline by two extra weekends to allow krewes parading on Monday and Tuesday a second chance to roll should rain force cancellations.

The request got a 4-3 favorable vote but failed to receive the necessary two-thirds. Council members Danny Babin and Christa Duplantis were absent.

Here's how the vote went:

FOR: John Navy, Arlanda Williams, Greg Hood and Pete Lambert.

AGAINST: Beryl Amedée, Red Hornsby and Dirk Guidry.

The measure needed six votes to pass.

The three who voted no said they did so because they couldn't agree to have parades take place during Lent, the period of fasting and repentance before Easter.

“I feel for you all, but I can't do it,” Guidry said, explaining that he would “have to answer to my mother, priest and the bishop.”

The forecast calls for a 60 percent chance of rain starting this afternoon, with a light chance of severe weather, said National Weather Service meteorologist Fred Zeigler.

The worst of the stormy weather is expected to go to the north of Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes.

The chance of rain stays at 60 percent for Monday and increases to 80 percent on Fat Tuesday, he said.

Houma's Krewe of Terreanians will roll an hour early, starting at 11:30 a.m., in the hopes of getting finished before the rain hits, said Dane Ledet, Terreanians' ball captain.

Montegut Children's Carnival Club still planned to roll at 2 p.m. as of Saturday, but the start time could change today depending on the weather, spokeswoman Wendy Lirette said.

In Thibodaux, the krewes of Cleophas and Chronos plan to parade as scheduled beginning at 12:30 p.m.

“It may wind up being a game-time decision by city officials,” said Justin Tenney, Chronos' treasurer.

Golden Meadow's Krewe of Nereids, which is set to roll at 6 p.m. today, also plans to adjust the start time if needed based on weather conditions, said krewe member Jennifer Cheramie.

Terrebonne Parish Council's meeting room was packed for the special meeting, mostly by krewe members there to lobby for a Mardi Gras extension. They cited the economic impact of the parades, the community service many clubs provide and the unfairness of members potentially missing out on their long-awaited rides.

Sheriff Jerry Larpenter was also in attendance and spoke to the council “on behalf of the clubs and the people of Terrebonne.”

He advocated the extension, which he said “wouldn't cost us one penny more.”

Cleopatra Queen Carrie Ledet, like other Carnival club members, said she was disappointed by the vote.

“We're either going to get wet or hope it's not raining,” she said.

Whether the remaining parades roll at a new time or at all will be decided on a case-by-case basis by krewe, parish and law-enforcement officials taking the most up-to-date weather forecast into account.

Any changes will be posted on The Courier's website, houmatoday.com, and Facebook page as they happen.

<p>Terrebonne's krewes must roll by Fat Tuesday or not at all.</p><p>That was the decision of the Terrebonne Parish Council, which held a special meeting Saturday to debate postponing the last few days of Carnival because of approaching thunderstorms.</p><p>Parish code says the local Carnival parade season must end by midnight on Fat Tuesday. The council debated a request that would have extended the deadline by two extra weekends to allow krewes parading on Monday and Tuesday a second chance to roll should rain force cancellations.</p><p>The request got a 4-3 favorable vote but failed to receive the necessary two-thirds. Council members Danny Babin and Christa Duplantis were absent.</p><p>Here's how the vote went:</p><p>FOR: John Navy, Arlanda Williams, Greg Hood and Pete Lambert.</p><p>AGAINST: Beryl Amedée, Red Hornsby and Dirk Guidry.</p><p>The measure needed six votes to pass.</p><p>The three who voted no said they did so because they couldn't agree to have parades take place during Lent, the period of fasting and repentance before Easter.</p><p>“I feel for you all, but I can't do it,” Guidry said, explaining that he would “have to answer to my mother, priest and the bishop.”</p><p>The forecast calls for a 60 percent chance of rain starting this afternoon, with a light chance of severe weather, said National Weather Service meteorologist Fred Zeigler.</p><p>The worst of the stormy weather is expected to go to the north of Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes.</p><p>The chance of rain stays at 60 percent for Monday and increases to 80 percent on Fat Tuesday, he said.</p><p>Houma's Krewe of Terreanians will roll an hour early, starting at 11:30 a.m., in the hopes of getting finished before the rain hits, said Dane Ledet, Terreanians' ball captain.</p><p>Montegut Children's Carnival Club still planned to roll at 2 p.m. as of Saturday, but the start time could change today depending on the weather, spokeswoman Wendy Lirette said.</p><p>In Thibodaux, the krewes of Cleophas and Chronos plan to parade as scheduled beginning at 12:30 p.m. </p><p>“It may wind up being a game-time decision by city officials,” said Justin Tenney, Chronos' treasurer.</p><p>Golden Meadow's Krewe of Nereids, which is set to roll at 6 p.m. today, also plans to adjust the start time if needed based on weather conditions, said krewe member Jennifer Cheramie.</p><p>Terrebonne Parish Council's meeting room was packed for the special meeting, mostly by krewe members there to lobby for a Mardi Gras extension. They cited the economic impact of the parades, the community service many clubs provide and the unfairness of members potentially missing out on their long-awaited rides.</p><p>Sheriff Jerry Larpenter was also in attendance and spoke to the council “on behalf of the clubs and the people of Terrebonne.”</p><p>He advocated the extension, which he said “wouldn't cost us one penny more.”</p><p>Cleopatra Queen Carrie Ledet, like other Carnival club members, said she was disappointed by the vote.</p><p>“We're either going to get wet or hope it's not raining,” she said.</p><p>Whether the remaining parades roll at a new time or at all will be decided on a case-by-case basis by krewe, parish and law-enforcement officials taking the most up-to-date weather forecast into account.</p><p>Any changes will be posted on The Courier's website, houmatoday.com, and Facebook page as they happen.</p>